The film October Sky tells the remarkable story of a teenage boy’s dream to build rockets. After watching Sputnik, the first earth-orbiting artificial satellite, race across the night sky in 1957, a deep desire was ignited within Homer Hickam to make rockets and become a part of NASA’s space program.
The problem was that nearly everything in Homer’s life was set against his dream. He lived in a tiny West Virginia coal mining town that offered him few opportunities. His friends thought he was nuts. And his father, who pressured his son to become a miner, did everything he could to make sure his desires flamed out. But Homer persevered. He fought through the stiff opposition and eventually realized his dream.
Homer Hickam’s story reminds me of the teenage shepherd boy David. Jesse, David’s father, had sent him out to check on the welfare of his brothers who were fighting on the front lines against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:17-19). As David talked with his brothers, the Philistine giant Goliath stepped out and challenged any Israelite who had the guts to come out and fight him (1 Samuel 17:23).
After learning that Goliath had been taunting Israel for 40 days, a desire to fight the giant sprang up in David. When he made it known that he had heard enough defiant words from the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:26), David was confronted by his brother Eliab. Afraid that his little brother would show him up, he accused David of coming only to watch the combat (1 Samuel 17:28). But David persevered and withstood the opposition (1 Samuel 17:29-30). He knew God had called and prepared him to fight this epic battle (1 Samuel 17:34-37).
Don’t let others force you into compromising the person you know God has called you to be. Like David and Homer, fight through the opposition—and persevere!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:20-36
More:
Read Job 17:9 to learn what people do who are truly persevering in God.
Next:
What opposition are you facing in becoming the person you were meant to be? How are you persevering in Jesus?
eppistle on August 30, 2011 at 8:05 am
”When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you” – Disney lyrics
“To believe in one’s dreams is to spend all of one’s life asleep.” Chinese Proverb.
Which saying is true? Proverbs 12:11 puts it in perspective: “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.”
Certainly persevering and hard work is part of the equation of making impossible dreams come true. But there is some wisdom in the Chinese proverb – some impossible dreams are just that – impossible. In the early 90s about half the guys in my inner-city discipleship group dreamed of being NBA players. None of them did. Realistically I don’t think any of them would no matter how hard they would have tried.
So the key thing is not so much what “your heart desires.” It’s finding out what God desires and pursing that:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1
So study the Bible, pray, seek godly counsel & follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discover God’s dreams for you. Once you discover it, work hard and persevere for as the Apostle Paul wrote:
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your
labor in the Lord is not in vain” I Corinthians 15:58.
Jeff Olson on August 30, 2011 at 12:53 pm
it’s true that we can’t do whatever it is we want to do…some of us have wanted to do things like play in the NBA, but we don’t have the natural giftings for it…There is a level of realism to bring to this issue. At the same time, one of the ways God leads is through personal desire (Phil. 2:13) and that most things in life that count for God’s Kingdom will will in some way be opposed.
winn collier on August 30, 2011 at 8:43 pm
I agree, Jeff – and also added to the mix is the “new heart” the gospel gives. So following our true heart’s desires and following God are different ways of saying the same thing.
daisymarygoldr on August 30, 2011 at 3:09 pm
For David, opposition came from not only his older brother Eliab but also from Goliath. But David didn’t care a hoot about the uncircumcised opponent. Usually we are well prepared to face the opposition from outside. It is the jealous jibes, ridicule and criticisms of our own which is the most discouraging.
When Moses encountered a fight between an Egyptian and an Israelite, he was able to easily overcome the situation to kill and bury the outsider- the Egyptian. But when the opposition came from one of his own Hebrew brother that challenged: “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”—Moses fled from the scene.
Sometimes there is this strong temptation to give up—when intimidated by people I consider are the closest to me. It is very frustrating when fellow Christians lack the vision and fight one another rather than joining hands to fight against the real enemy.
However, when God calls us to do something, we may get knocked down, but we are never knocked out. Let us then persevere in Jesus because—the battle belongs to the Lord. As always, thanks Jeff Olson for the much needed encouragement!
Jeff Olson on August 30, 2011 at 4:50 pm
daisymarygoldr, sad but oh so true insights about opposition…but thankfully, as others as said, the battle belongs to Lord.
roxanne robbins on August 30, 2011 at 5:23 pm
1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”